nsb core (north sea-baltic connector of ......republic of lithuania originator of special plan &...

Planning Organizer:The Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania

Originator of special plan & drafter of EIA documents:

AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited branch

NSB CORE (NORTH SEA-BALTIC CONNECTOR OF REGIONS

REGIONAL WORKSHOP IN RIGA

EUROPEAN GAUGE RAILWAY LINE BETWEEN KAUNAS AND THE LITHUANIAN–LATVIAN STATE BORDER. SPECIAL PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

April 4, 2017, Riga

Content

1. Content

2. Main information about Special Plan & EIA

3. Planning Tasks

4. Railway track alignment influenced factors

5. Territorial Planning & EIA

6. Challenges and Solutions

2. Main information about Special Plan & EIA

Organiser of planning & EIA of proposed economic activity:

The Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania

Originator of Special Plan and drafter of EIA:

AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited branch

Objective of the Special Plan: to select the optimal route for the European-standard railway line Kaunas – Lithuanian/Latvian state border and to determine the point of crossing the Lithuanian/Latvian state border

Proposed economic activity:

Construction and exploitation of European gauge railway line between Kaunas and the Lithuanian – Latvian border

Planning & EIA territory: Part of the territories of Kaunas and Panevėžys Counties

3. Planning Tasks

1. To carry out exploring engineering geological and geotechnical investigations;

2. To carry out the strategic environmental assessment of the railway and to establishthe best alternative;

3. To prepare the development concept of the planned territory;

4. To perform the independent professional assessment of the development concept;

5. To study the needs for the conversion of forest land into other lands;

6. To form new land parcels and to prepare specific solutions for the laying of railwayline;

7. to reserve territories for the laying of the railway line;

8. To establish measures for the use, management, and protection of the plannedterritory as well as other requirements;

9. To specify the special land use conditions;

10. To plan the railway line, which would meet the requirements of the technicalspecifications for interoperability of the EU;

11. To ensure the implementation of measures improving traffic safety and to decreasethe negative environmental impact of transport;

4. Railway track alignment influenced factors

• Strategical documentation and programs

• Development documentation

• Technical requirements

• Territory planning documentation

• Construction costs

Environmental components:

• Water bodies

• Geological and hydrogeological conditions

• Ground soil

• Landscape

• Protected areas

• Heritage objects

• Flora

• Fauna

• Public Health

• Engineering infrastructure:

• Transport communication

• Engineering networks

„Rail Baltica“ is planned according with Commission Regulation

(EU) No. 1299/2014 of 18 November 2014 on the technical

specifications for interoperability relating to the ‘infrastructure’

subsystem of the rail system in the European Union

• Traffic code – P2-F1

• Structure gauge – GC

• Axle load – 22,5 t

• Line speed – 200-250km/h for passenger traffic, 100-120 km/h forfreight traffic

• Train length – 740-1050 m

• Usable length of platform – 200-400 m

4.1. Performance parameters

• Passenger train traffic was planned from 6 AM till 12 AM, 2 hour interval

• Freight train traffic was planned at night time from 12.00 AM till 6.00 AM

• Sundays were identified for a limited service to enable planned maintenance or reactivemaintenance should inspection and testing require

4.2. Traffic volume, trains/day

(source: AECOM Feasibility study, 2011)

Year Freight trains Passenger trains Total

2020 13 18 312030 18 18 362040 24 18 42

5. Territorial Planning & EIA

– Preparatory stage (geological surveys, ect.)

– The preparatory stage of special plan:

• The stage of analyzing the current State

• The stage of concept preparation

• The strategic impact assessment of the special plan

• The stage of specification of the solutions

– Final stage

• The stage of considering and coordinating the solutions of territorial planning document –consulting or public hearing, coordinating with institutions, dispute resolution

• The stage of approving the territorial planning document – inspection in the institution performing the supervision of State territorial planning, approval and recording in the territorial planning register

– EIA

• Programme for EIA

• Publicity period of programme for EIA

• Consideration of EIA programme by entities of EIA

• Consideration of EIA programme by competent authority

• EIA report preparation

• Publicity period for EIA report

• Consideration of EIA report by entities of EIA

• Publicity period for the decision on the proposed economical activity

5.1. Preparatory stage

– Level 1 text 24pt Arial• Level 2 bullet 20pt Arial

– Level 1 text 24pt Arial • Level 2 bullet 20pt Arial

– Preparation of Engineering Geological and Geotechnical Research Report• Performed drilling works;

• Prepared and approved research report by Lithuanian Geological Survey;

– Public announcement about beginning of preparation of special plan and planning objectives• Public announcements in local newspapers,

internet, municipality notice boards;

5.2.1. Special plan preparation stage

– The stage of analyzing the current state

• Analysis of territorial planning documents, urban territories, ambient air, geological and hydrogeological places, water bodies, swampy areas, protected areas, cultural heritage, engineering networks, transport communications and etc.

• Prepared layout of existing transport communications

• Prepared railway line alternatives

5.2.2. Concept preparation & SEA

Poland

Latvia

Kaunas junction

– Kaunas public logistics center;– New station tracks;– New locomotive and wagon

maintenance center;– Junction to Kaunas Free

Economic Zone;– New railway station near Kaunas

International Airport;– Vilnius–Kaunas extension;

Panevėžys district

– 4 alternatives of planned railway line route;

– New railway station near Panevėžys (2 alternatives);

Pasvalys district

– 4 alternatives of planned railway line route and 4 border crossing points;

– Passing station near Joniškėlis;

Kėdainiai district

– Passing station near Pagiriai;

PL/LT cross border – Kaunas

– 1435 railway line;– Šeštokai, Kalvarija, Marijampolė,

Kazlų Ruda, Kaunas stations;

5.2.2.1. Concept preparation – Kaunas District

120 km/h passenger train speed




1435 mm track yard

8 tracks 750 m length

possible extension to 10 tracks 1050 m length

Locomotive and wagon

maintenance centre (depot), var. 1

Locomotive and

wagon

maintenance

center, var. 2



Freight traffic

Passenger traffic

5.2.2.2. Concept preparation – Kaunas District

Designed speed:240 (120) km/h

Designed speed:120 (80) km/h

Kaunas FEZ

Kaunas PLC

Outlook connector with Kaunas FEZ

Outlook connector Vilnius – Kaunas (1435 mm)

Outlook connector Vilnius – Kaunas (1435 mm)

Reconstruction of current railway line (1520 mm)

Outlook connector to Kaunas FEZ (1435 mm)

Bus shuttle

Public logistics center of Kaunas

Free Economic Zone of Kaunas

Territory of Kaunas International Airport

Kaunas International Airport

1435 mm station tracks


possible extension to 10 tracks 1050 m length

Locomotive and wagon

maintenance center, var. 1

Locomotive and

wagon

maintenance

center, var. 2

5.2.2.3. Concept preparation – Jonava District

Traction

substation

5.2.2.4. Concept preparation – Kėdainiai District

Passing

station

5.2.2.5. Concept preparation –

Panevėžys District

Traction

substation

Traction

substation

5.2.2.6. Concept preparation – Panevėžys Junction

April 21, 2017The International conference “Building Railway Rail Baltica”

Passenger station (passing station)

2 aprons 400 m


Passenger station (passing station)

2 aprons 400 m


5.2.2.7. Concept preparation – Pasvalys District

Traction

substation

Passing

station

5.3. Specification of the solutions

5.3. Specification of the solutions – Kaunas district

5.3. Specification of the

solutions

5.3.1. Railway cross section at 133+100 KM & 133+200

KM near to Joniškėlis (prepared every 100 m)

51,0 m

Service road

Double track railway

Engineering networks


Service road

Double track railway



47,9 m

Fence, Boundary of a land parcel




Railway cross section at 94+955 KM

Automobile road longitudinal section at 94+955 KM

5.3.2. Railway longitudinal section at 21+000 KM – 51+000 KM

5.3.2. Special plan. Forming of land parcels for railway

line

– Solutions

• Cross border point was approved after special plan SEA approval in LT;

6.1. Challenges and Solutions.

Border crossing point identification

– Causes of non approved border crossing point

• SEA of the European Gauge Railway Line Kaunas – Lithuanian-Latvian Border project (2014, Sweco) – border crossing point was not considered;

• Different processes for cross border point aprroval in LT&LV;

6.2. Challenges and Solutions. Poor geological conditions

– Causes of poor geological conditions

• Karst region in Panevėžys andPasvalys districts

– Solutions

• Additional geological investigation on both sides of countries;

• No karst territories observed;

1. Law on Protected Areas “Article 13. Regulation of Activities in State Parks” prohibited toconstruct transit engineering networks (its not applied for Natura 2000 territories)

2. According with 2013-08-12 Ministry of Environment official letterNo. (14-1)-D8-6813 the planned railway line should not cross European protected areas(Natura 2000 territories), except cases when it is impossible. Then it is recommended toalign the track in the existing infrastructure corridors

3. To cross Natura 2000 territories EIA procedures were performed:

a) Inventory tests of protected fauna and flora species were taken;

b) the measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and offset adverse effects on theenvironment or eliminate them;

4. Baltic salmon spawning period from 1st of September till 31st of October and EuropeanRiver Lamprey spawning period from 1st of April till 31st of May could be medium termnegative effect if migration corridor would be destroyed. In the case of Spined loach andRhodeus could be negative effect due to construction works, phisical natural habitatsdestruction.

6.3. Challenges and Solutions.

Crossing of Natura 2000 & state protected territories

6.4. Challenges and Solutions. Farmer discontent

– Causes of public discontent

• High level husbandry in the vicinity of Rail Baltica track;

• Unknown situation on farmers projects that are supported by EU Structural Funds;

• Unknown situation of land reservation and expropriation procedures;

– Solutions

• Publicity meetings with farmers in special plan, EIA, SEA public hearing meetings, additional consulting meetings, media information, publicly available information on official websites;

6.5. Challenges and Solutions. Public discontent

– Causes of public discontent• Lack of information about the

future stages of project “Rail Baltica 2”;

• Unknown situation of land reservation and expropriation procedures;

• Reach of private land plots;

– Solutions• Publicity meetings with farmers

in special plan, EIA, SEA public hearing meetings, additional consulting meetings, media information, publicly available information on official websites;

• Presentation of roads redevelopment schemes;

• The noise modeling (noise flow visualisations, planing of noise barriers).

Thank you for the attention!

nsb core (north sea-baltic connector of ......republic of lithuania originator of special plan &...

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